Automatic work-starting mechanism for sewing machines



L. ROSEMAN Aug. 13, 1929.

AUTOMATIC WORK STARTING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Aug. 18,1926 4 Sheets-Sheet Zea f0 IN VEN TOR.

Kama 1% ATTORNEYS Aug. 13, 1929. 1.. ROSEMAN 1,724,631

AUTOMATIC WORK STARTING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Aug. 18,1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 E f 7 W W 4"! (T A19 I V 43 22 j? l L 32 L TINVENTOR. lea fiofi'emang' BY y C(MATTORXZ? L. ROSEMAN Aug. 13, 1929.

AUTOMATIC WORK STARTING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Aug. 18,1926 4 Sheets-Sheet R w m m m n N N w 7 m w w 3 0 3 a N 0 4a m 3 a 7 Z 3M O m I. m L 6 M M /7 I Z W K q 0 W aw F Hf N Z n0 CV /q a U T Aug. 13,1929. ROSEMAN 1,724,681

AUTOMATIC WORK STARTING MECHANISM FORSEWING MACHINES Filed Aug. 18, 19264 Sheets-Sheet 4 Ii Q INVENTOR. [60 30522222 aw BY a wy mmsys.

Patented Aug. 13, 1929.

LEO ROSEMAN, 0F NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

AUTOMATIC WORK-STARTIN G MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES.

Application filed August 18, 1926. Serial No. 129,880.

This invention relates, generally, to improvements in sewing machines;and the invention has reference, more particularly, to a novelconstruction of means adapted to automatically start the movement ofwork to the sewing mechanism of a sewing machine at a desired time andin accordance with predetermined conditions.

In the garment manufacturing industry, as well as in other industrieswherein materials are assembled by sewing machine operations, itfrequently happens that one class of material is fed continuouslythrough the machine and sewn to successively fed units of othermaterial; and in such operation it is frequently necessary to so feedthe units of material that the continuously fed material will beassembled therewith in a certain predetermined relation thereto. Forexample, when sewing hook or eye fastener tape to the meeting edges ofgarments, the fastener tape is continuously fed through the machine, andthe garment units successively fed with the continuously moving 5 tapepast the sewing mechanism, to thus sew the latter to the former. Undersuch circumstances, it is necessary that each garment unit be fed intoengagement with the sewing mechanism at the proper moment to assure thedesired predetermined relation and position of the tape and its spacedfasteners to the garment meeting edge and between the top and bottomedges of the garment. To carry on such operations with a minimum amountof waste and so as to avoid errors resulting in the spoiling of work,requires considerable skill upon the part of the operator, andconsequently involves the employment of relatively highly paid workers.Even with skilled operators, trained to high speed production, errorsare frequently made resulting in loss of time and material, and addingto the expense of production. It is, therefore, the principal object ofthis invention to provide a means for automatically starting eachsuccessive unit of work to the sewing mechanism at the proper momentfollowing the sewing operation on a preceding unit, to the end thataccuracy in assembling materials in desired predetermined relationswithout waste or loss of time, and without necessity for the employmentof especially skilled labor, may be attained, thereby increasingproduction and lowering the cost of the finished work.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularlyenumerated, will be clearly understood from the following detaileddescription of the same.

e invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich 1 igure 1 is a fragmentary transverse section through a sewingmachine head and sewing table, showing in relation thereto, one form ofthe novel work starting means which is the subject of this invention;Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same viewed at right angles to thesection of Figure 1; and igure 3 is a fragmentary plan view, on anenlarged scale, of a portion of said work starting means; Figures 4 and5 are fragmentary views similar to that of Figure 1, showing phases ofwork starting means.

Figure 6 is a detail view, showing a slightly modified form of said workstarting means.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary transverse end elevation, having portions insection, of a modified form and arrangement of the work starting means,which embodies, however,

the operation of said the general principles of this invention;

Figure 8 is a side elevation of the same; and Figure 9 is a fragmentaryplan view of the same.

Figure 10 is a detail view showing a still further modification ofcertain features of the work starting means.

Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the hereinabovedescribed views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to said drawings, the reference character 10 indicates thesewing table or base of any suitable or desired type of sewing machine,above which is spaced the sewing machine head 11, through which extendsthe main shaft 12 by which the sewing mechanism per se is actuated. Saidsewing mechanism may include the presser foot 13, sewing needle 14 andfeed dog 15 usual to sewing machines, or any other desired known typeand arrangement of sewing mechanism elements.

The novel work starting means is mounted on the sewing table or base 10in advance of the sewing mechanism, and, in the form and arrangementthereof shown in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, comprises a releaseable stopmeans, controlling devices for automatically operating said stop means,and an auxiliary work advancing or propelling means. Secured on saidsewing table or base 10 is a bearing block 16 in which is journaled arock-shaft 17, on one end of which is fixed a stop-finger 18, the bodyof which is upwardly arched, with its free end directed downwardlytoward the surface of the sewing table or base 10; said free end beingpreferably provided with a lateral extension 19 which is alined with thesewing mechanism so as to extend transversely across the path ofmovement of the work thereto. The hub of said stop-finder 18 is providedwith a rearwardly projecting tailpiece 20 for purposes subsequently setforth. Fixed to the opposite end of said rock-shaft 17 is an upwardlyextending lever-arm 21; a suitably anchored pull spring 22 beingconnected with said lever-arm 21 to normally swing the same in adirection to move the free end of the stop-finger .18 toward the sewingtable or base 10.

Mounted on said sewing table or base 10, in transverse relation thereto,is a bearing member 23 in which is journaled a rockshaft 24:. Fixed onone end of said rockshaft 24: is a presser-arm 25, which extendsforwardly beneath the arched stop-finger 18,

so that its free end overhangs the path of movement of the material fedto the sewing mechanism of the machine. Rotatably mounted on the freeend of said presserarm 25 is an anti-friction roller 26 of suit ableshape. Said resser-arm 25 is further provided with a lateral trip-armwhich overhangs the tail-piece 20 of said stop-finger 18'; the free endportion of said trip-arm 27 having adjustably related thereto a tripstud28 to engage said tail-piece 20 and depress the same to thereby swingupward or release the stop-finger 18 at proper times. Fixed to theopposite end of said rock-shaft 2 1 is a control lever 29 for producingproperly timed movements of said presser-arm 25. Said control lever 29is normally held inactive by a pivoted detent arm 30, the nosing 31 ofwhich is normally engaged over the extremity of said control lever, saidextremity being suitably shaped to receive such engagement. Means areprovided for retracting said detent arm 30 to at roper times releasesaid control lever 29 or actuation. This means, in one form, asillustrated in the drawings, comprises an electromagnet 32, suitablysupported by brackets 33 from the base 10, and so that its core 34 isopposed to the detent arm 30, which functions 1n connection therewith asan armature. A spring means, such, for example, as the leaf-spring 35which is fixed on an ad- 'acent bracket 33, by its tension serves toyieldably hold the detent arm in operative position relative to thecontrol lever; such position being determined by a suitably supportedadjustable stop-screw 36, as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. Anotherspring means 37 is provided in connection with the control lever 25 andits rock shaft 24 and 29, the tension of which tends to move saidpresser-arm 25 toward the sewing table or base 10 and the control lever29 into engagement with an actuating means when the same is releasedfrom the restraint of said detent arm 30.

The means for actuating said control arm 29 comprises a cam wheel 38provided with a peripheral flange 39 and an internal cammember 10, themain portion of which is concentric to said flange 3%) so as to providea raceway 41 intermediate the former and the latter. Said cam-member isprovided with an eccentric cam nosing 12 which projects laterallyoutward to the periphery of said cam-wheel 38. Said flange 39 isdiscontinuous adjacent to said cam nosing 42 to provide an entranceopening 43 on one side of the latter leading into said raceway 4:1 andan exit opening 4 1 on the opposite side thereof leading out of saidraceway. Said cam-wheel 38 may be driven from the main shaft 12 of thesewing machine, and at a desired speed ratio relative thereto, bysuitable intermediate transmission means, such, for example, as thetransmission gearing 45 shown in Figure 1.

The lever arm 21 associated with said stop-finger 18 operates a suitablecircuit make and break device adapted to control. the delivery ofenergizing electric current at proper times to the electro-magnet 32.Said make and break device comprises a suitable support 46, preferablyof insulation material, which is attached to the sewing machine head 11so as to be disposed adjacent to the free end of said lever arm 21.Mounted on said support is a resilient or flexible contact finger orbrush 47, the free end of which is normally spaced from a stationarycontact point 48 also carried by said support 416. aid finger or brusha7 is connected by suitable ircuit connections, indicated at 19 bydotted lines in Figure 1, with one pole of said electro-magnet 32, whilethe contact point 13 is connected, through a suitable source ofelectrical energy, such as a battery 50, by suitable circuitconnections, indicated at T1 by dotted lines in Figure 1, with theopposite pole of said electro-magnet. The free end of said lever arm 21normally on" e the contact finger or brsuh 47 and, if desired, saidlever arm may be provided with an abutment 52 of insulation material,

To illustrate the manner in which tr e novel work starting meansfunctions, it be assumed that the same is asrociated a sewing machinearranged to assemble he or eye fastener tape with the meeting edgeportions of garment units. Such fastener tape is usually fed from a rollto pass continuously through the sewing machine, and the garment unitsare successively fed in proper relation to the continuously movingpresser-arm the stop-fi fastener tape, so that the latter will be sewnto the former and thus operatively assembled therewit In carrying onsuch operations, it is essential that each succeeding garment unit bestarted at a proper time toward the sewing mechanism of the machine, sothat the tape will be so related to the garment edge as to assure theproper positioning of the spaced fastener elements carried by the tape,and especially so that the uppermost fastener element will be properlyspaced or positioned relative to the upper end of the garment unit.Assuming, for example, that the fastener elements of the tape are spacedone inch apart, that the sewing mechanism produces thirty stitches tothe inch, and that it is desired to space the uppermost fastener elementfrom the top edge of the garment at a distance of one-half inch. Undersuch circumstances, the camwheel 38 is so geared relative to the mainshaft 12 as to make one revolution to thirty revolutions of the latter.

he fastener tape, indicated by the reference character T in the drawingsis introduced beneath the presser foot 13 of the sewing mechanism, andthe initial garment unit G is applied to or over the tape so that itsupper edge is properly spaced one-half inch above a fastener element,thus making ready to start sewing operations. The initial garment unit Gis passed under the stopfinger 18, so that the free end of the latterrides on the garment unit material. hen nger is so positioned thelever-arm 21 will be disposed in a normal initial position, as shown inFigure 1, and the make and break device including the contact finger 41and contact point 48 will be in normal circuit interrupting position.The sewing machine being now put in operation, the tape T and initialgarment unit G will be fed together past the sewing mechanism whichoperates to sew the same together. Before the initial garment unit Gpasses entirely through the sewing mechanism, the operator inserts asucceeding garment unit G over the initial garment unit G, with itsupper end positioned and stopped against the stop-finger 18, as shown inFigure 1 of the drawings. The stop-finger 18 holds said succeedinggarment unit G against forward movement or shifting, while the initialgarment unit G and tape T move on through the sewing mechanism. As therearward end of the initial garment unit G passes from beneath thestop-finger 18, the latter will move or swing downward for a distanceequivalent to the thickness of the garment unit. This slight downwardswinging movement of the stop-finger 18 is transmitted through therock-shaft 17 to the lever arm 21, thereby producing a forward swingingmovement ofthe latter to thus cause its upper end to press forward theresilient contact finger 47 into circuit closing engagement with thecontact point 48 (as shown in Figure 4). The electric circuit servingthe electromagnet 32 being thus closed, the latter is energized, andforthwith exerts a magnetic attraction upon the detent arm 30 operatingto retract the same from restraining relation to the control arm 29. Thecontrol lever being thus freed, it will be moved by the tension of thespring means 37, so that an anti-friction roller 29 which projectslaterally from the end of said control lever, will move into engagementwith the external periphery of said cam-wheel flange 39.

uring these operations, the succeeding garment unit G is stillrestrained from forward movement or shifting by its engagement wit-h thelowered stop-finger 18. Since it is desired not to release and initiatethe succeeding garment unit G for forward movement until the tape T isso positioned relative thereto that a fastener element is positioned thedesired one-half inch distant from the leading or upper edge of saidsucceeding garment unit G, the setting of the camwheel 38 is such, andits ratio of rotation relative to the operative feeding or stitchproducing movement of the sewing mechanism, that the control arm 29 isheld against operative movement by the riding of its roller 29 on theexternal periphery of said cam-wheel flange 39 until the tape T hasprogressed far enough to bring a fastener element into such desiredrelation. By the time a fastener element of the tape is so positioned,however, the cam-wheel 38 has rotated a sufiicient distance to bring theentrance opening 43 of the raceway 41 opposite the roller 29', so thatthe latter drops into said raceway, and thereby permits an operativeswinging movement of said con trol arm 29, which is transmitted throughthe rock-shaft 24 to the presser-arm 25 to cause a downward swingingmovement of the latter. Such'movement of the presser-arm 25 depressesits roller 26 into engagement with the succeeding garment unit G, tothereby frictionally engage the latter with the underlying tape T foraccompanying forward movement therewith. Simultaneously with thedepressing of the roller 26, the downward movement of the presser-arm 25also carries downward the trip-arm 27, so that its stud 28 moves intodepressing engagement with the tail-piece 20 of the stopfinger 18, tothereby immediately swing upward the latter out of the path of theforwardly moving succeeding garment unit G. The upward swinging movementof the stopfinger 18 rocks the rock-shaft 17 to swing back the lever arm21, thereby permitting the separation of the contact finger 47 andcontact point 48, so that the circuit serving the electro-magnet 32 isinterrupted, and the latter de-energized so as to release the detentarm30 which resumes normal initial position. In the meantime, the cam-wheel38 continues its rotation so that the roller 29 of the control arm 29rides around the raceway 41, thus keeping the roller 26 in operativeengagement with the garment Gr until it passes beneath the presser-toot13 ot the sewing mechanism, by which time the camnosing 42 reaches theroller 29 and guides the same outwardly through the exit opening 44,while at the same time swin ing back the control arm 29 to normalinitial position and returned to normal engagement with the detent arm30. This latter movement of the control arm 29 raises the presserarm 25,its roller 26 and trip arm 27 back to normal initial positions, thusreleasing the stop-finger 18 so that the same moves down to engagementwith the garment G, and in position so that the operator may insertanother garment unit into stopped relation thereto ready for arepetition of the above described automatic starting operations.

in some classes of work it be desirable to provide auxiliary feedingmeans to cooperate withthe depressed roller 26 of the presser-arm 25. InFigure 6 I have shown such auxiliary feeding means in the form of aroller 53 which may be suitably rotated or driven by suitable connectionwith the transmission means of the sewing machine. This roller 53 isarranged in the sewing table or base 10 so as to be located beneath thegoods ted over the same to the sewing mechanism, and so as to be alignedbeneath the roller 26 of the presser arm 25.

It will be understood that the ratio of. retation of the cam-wheel 38relative to the operation of the sewing mechanism may be more or lessvaried to correspond to the desired timing of the starting movement ofthe work to the sewing mechanism, and to correspond to the desiredrelation of assembled parts of the work to be attained.

In Figures 7 to 9 inclusive, I have shown a somewhat modifiedconstruction of my novel automatic work starting means, which involvesmore especially an arrangement of actuating means for controlling thestarting movement of the work in connection with continuously ted hookor eye fastener tape. In this construction, the general arrangement ofthe stop-finger 18 with its lever arm 21 operating a make and breakdevice including the flexible contact finger Q7 and stationary contactpoint 48, together with the resser-arm 25 and its roller 26 and controlarm 29, is substantially the same as al ready above described, as willbe apparent from the application to the detail parts thereof ofcorresponding reference character The modified structure, however,includes a secondary circuit make and break means in series with themake and break de vices 47 and 4-8, which control the circuit servingthe electro-magnet 32; and further 10 is a tape guide plate 62,

providesa modified arrangement and operation of the cam-wheel device forEtCtLlZl-tlll" D tie control arm 29. The cam-wheel device is suitablysupported for intermittent rotation, and comprises a cam-wheel 5stprovided with a peripheral flange 54: and an internal cammember 55, theportion of which is concentric to said flange 5e so as to provide araceway 56 intermediate the former and the latter. Said cam-member isprovided with an eccentric cam-nosing 57 which projects laterallyoutward to the periphery of said cam-wheel 54c. Said flange 5 's isdiscontinuous adjacent to said cam-nosing 5'? to provide an entranceopening 58 on one side of the latter leading into said raceway 56 andexit opening 59 on the opposite side thereof leading out of saidraceway. Said cam-wheel 54c is provided with a beltpnlley 60 by means ofwhich it may be rotated at proper times from any suitable ource ofpower. Formed in the circumferen mi face of said cam-wheel 5 is a notch61. Elie detent arm 30 and its actuating electro-magnet 32 are sopositioned relative to said cam-wheel 5% that the nosing 31 of saiddetent arm 30 normally engages said notch 61 to normally restrain saidcamwheel from rotation, so that the same is held initially inactive. Thecontrol arm 29 is so disposed that its roller 29 is opposed to theperipheral flange 5% of said cam-wheel 5%. A modified form of pressurespring which cooperates with said control arm parts associated therewithis shown in Figure 8, the same being indicated by the referencecharacter 37.

Connectec with said sewing table or base above which is a garmentsupporting plate 63, the latter being cut away, as at 64, to permit thetape traveling through the guide plate 62 to pass beneath and intoengagement with the garment as such elements move toward the sewingmechanism of the machine. Situated between said guide plate 62 andsupporting plate 63, and offset f om the path of movement of a fastenertape T over said guideplate, is a suitably'fixed bearing block 65 inwhich is transversely journaled a fulcrum spindle 66. Secured to one endof said spindle 66 is a lever linger 67, the free end of which. rides incontact with a fastener tape T passing over said guide plate 62, and soas to be operatively engaged by the tasteners 7 carried by said tape.Fixed on the opposite end of said spindle 66 is a lever arm 68 whichextends inwardly over the sewing table or base 10. The lever arm 68operates a secondary make and break device, which comprises a suitablesupport 69, preferably of insulation material, mounted on the sewingtable or base 10 adjacent to the tree end of said lever arm 68. Mountedon said support 69 is a resilient or flexible 29 and the contact fingeror brush 70, the free end of which is normally spaced above a stationarycontact member 71 also carried by said support 69. The free end of saidflexible contact finger or brush 70 extends under the free end of saidlever arm 68 so as to be engageable thereby, the latter being provided,if desired, with an abutment piece 72 made of insulating material. Asshown by dotted lines in Figure 7, the electric circuit serving theelectro-magnet 32 is established from any suitable source of electricenergy, as e. g. the battery 73, through the circuit wires 74: arrangedto connect the respective make and break devices 47 and 48 and 70 and 71in series.

In the operation of the above described modified form of my novel Workstarting means, the fastener tape T is continuously fed through theguide-plate 62 and over the sewing table or base 10 to the sewingmechanism of the machine together with an initial garment unit G, thestop-finger being lowered upon the initial garment G as already abovedescribed. Before the completion of sewing operations which unite tape Tand initial garment unit G, the operator inserts a succeeding garmentunit G into stopped relation to the stop-finger 18. As the rearward endof the initial garment unit G passes from beneath the stop-finger 18,the latter will move or swing downward, thereby rocking the rock shaft17 to swing the lever arm 21 into circuit closing relation to the makeand break devices 47 and 48. Since, however, the make and break devices7 O and 71 are in series with the make and break devices 47 and 48 thecircuit through the electro-magnet 32 is not completed until they alsoare closed. The closing of said devices 7 and 71 is controlled by themovement of a fastener f beneath the lever finger 67. Since thefasteners f of the tape T are uniformly spaced apart, and since the tapeT moves continuously forward, the lever finger 67 may be made of properlength so that, after the initial garment unit G passes from beneath thestop-finger 18, the succeeding garment unit G will be still held instopped relation until a fastener f is carried by the moving tape toproper spaced relation from the leading end of the succeedin garmentunit G, at which time a fastener F will have moved under and raised thelever finger 67. The raising of the lever finger 67 swings downward thelever arm 68, thereby moving contact member 70 into circuit closingengagement with the contact member, and thus entirely closing thecircuit through the electro-magnet 32. The cam-wheel .54: is normallyheld against rotation by the detent arm 30, its drive belt (not shown)slipping on its pulley 60 under such circumstances; when,'however, theelectro-magnet 32 is energized, its attractive force is'exerted toretract the detent-arm 30 to withdraw its nosing 31 from the notch 61.thus releasing said cam-wheel for rotation. The roller 29' of thecontrol arm 29 is normally at rest against the end of the cam-nosing 57,until the rotation of the cam-Wheel is initiated, whereupon it dropsinto the racewa 56 in which it rides until discharged there rom by theoperation of the cam-nosing 57. The movement of the control arm uponentering the raceway causes the depression of the presser-arm and itsroller 26, and the Sim ultaneous lifting of the stop-finger 18 andconsequent interruption of the make 'and break devices 47 and/18 uponthe accompanying backward swinging of the lever arm 21, allsubstantially in the same manner as already above described, and so thatat the proper moment the succeeding garment unit G is started toward anddelivered to the sewing mechanism of the machine in desired accompanyingrelation to the fastener tape The breaking of the circuit at 47 and 48de-energizes the electro-magnet 32 before the cam-wheel 54 completes itsrotation, and con sequently the detent-arm moves under the urge of itsspring toward the cam-wheel 54, with its nosing 31 riding on theperiphery of the latter. By the time the camwheel 54 completes itsrotation, the control lever 29 is returned to normal initial position,and the notch 61 is brought into engagement with the detent-arm nosing31, whereby the cam wheel rotation is arrested, and all the parts of thestarting means have been caused to resume' normal initial positions,ready for a repetition of the above described operations with relationto a following garment unit;

It will be apparent that the general principles of my novel Workstarting means as applied in the hereinabove first describedconstruction are also embodied in the above described modified formthereof. Aside from the provision of the auxiliary or secondary make andbreak device adapted to be operated by the fastener tape, the onlydifference between the two forms is that in the first describedconstruction the calm wheel is continuously driven and the control armheld in arrested position by the detentarm, whereas in the seconddescribed con struction, the cam-wheel is controlled by the detent-armso as to be subject to intermittent rotation in actuating relation tothe control arm.

It is not essential in every'caseto employ the presser roll 26 to movethesucceeding Work to the sewing mechanism, and this invention in itsbroader aspects embraces a simplified arrangement which is shown inFigure 10 of the drawings. In this embodiment of the invention, thestop-finger 18 is provided on the rearward side of its free end portion,and off-setor spaced upwardly from its extremity, with a stop-shoulder18 succeeding garment unit G .tioned over and The means for lifting ortripping the stopfinger v18 to free a succeeding garment unit G forstarting movement may be the same as already above described. \Vhenemploying this modified form of stop-finger 18,

and the presser roller 26 is omitted, the stopfinger is located close tothe needle 14: of the sewing mechanism and the presser foot 13 isforeshortened as shown. In operation the is inserted against thestop-finger, and pushed forward to cause its leading end-portion toslightly upturn against the same as limited by contact with thestop'shoulde-r 18 as shown in Figure 1 0. When in the operation of thedevice the stop-finger 18 is raised out of the ath of movement of thegarment unit G, the upturned end of the latter will drop down so :as tobe engaged by the needle 14 and then passed between presser-iioot 13 andfeed dog 15 as the unit G moves forward with the tape T and thus isimmediately started through the sewing mechanism.

It will be understood that various changes in arrangement and in detailconstruction of the parts and devices making up my novel automatic workstarting means, other than those already above indicated may be madewithin the general principles of this invention; and it will also beunderstood that the invention is not limited for use in connection withany p articular style of sewing machine or like mechanism. Generallyspeaking, it is to be understood the invention is not limited to anyspecific form or adaptation except in so far as such limitations arespecified in the claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:-

1. In a work starting mechanism for sew ing machines, a movablestop-finger posiengaged with a unit of work advancing through the sewingmechanism of the machine so as to arrest movement of a succeeding unitof work overlaid upon'said advancing unit of work, means for raisingsaid stop-finger out of the path of said succeeding unit of work, meansfor actuating said stop-finger raising means, and means controlled bythe release of said stop-finger by the passing of said advancing unit ofwork from beneath the same for initiating the operation of saidactuating means.

2.. In a work starting mechanism for sewing machines, a movablestop-finger positioned. over and engaged with a unit of work advancingthrough'the sewing mechanism of the machine so as to arrest movement ofa succeeding unit of work overlaid upon said advancing unit of work,means for raising said stop-finger from the path of said succeeding unitof 'work and at the same time advancing the latter toward the sewingmechanism of the machine, means for actuating said stop-finger releasingand work advancing means, and means operated by the passing of, saidadvancing unit of work from beneath said stop-finger for initiating theoperation of said actuating means.

3. In combination with a sewing machine for successively stitching unitsof work to material continuously moving through said machine, a workstarting mechanism, comprising a movable stop adjacent to the sewingmechanism of the machine, said stop being positioned over an advancingunit of work so as to arrest movement of a succeeding unit of work,means for frictionally pressing said succeeding unit of work against thecontinuously moving material to advance the same with the latter to thesewing mechanism, and means for simultaneously releasing said stop whensaid latter means is actuated.

4:. In combination with a sewing machine for successively stitchingunits of work to material continuously moving through said machine, awork starting mechanism, comprising a movable stop adjacent to thesewing mechanism of the machine, said stop being positioned over anadvancing unit of work so as to arrest movement of a succeeding unit ofwork, means for frictionally pressing said succeeding unit of workagainst the continuously moving material to advance the same with thelatter to the sewing mechanism, means for simultaneously releasing saidstop when said latter means is actuated, and means for timing therelease of said stop and the advance of said succeeding unit of work.

5. In combination with a sewing machine for successively stitching unitsof work to material continuously moving through said machine, a workstarting mechanism, comprising a movable stop-finger'yieldably engageable with a preceding unit of work advancing through the sewingmechanism of the machine so as to arrest movement of a succeed-ing unitof work, a presser-arm en gageable with the succeeding unit of work tofrictionally press the same against the continuously moving material toadvance the same with the latter, means to simultaneously raise saidstop-finger out of the path of said succeeding unit of work when saidpresser-a-rm is actuated, and means to cause properly timed actuation ofsaid pressor'ar after said preceding unit of work passes from beneathsaid stop-finger.

6. In combination with a sewing machine for successively stitching unitsof work to material continuously moving through said machine, a workstarting mechanism, comprising'a movable stop-finger yieldablyengageable with a preceding unit of work advancing through thesewingmechanism of the machine so as to arrest movement of a succeedingunit of work, a presser-arm engageab'le with the suceeding unit of workto Cal frictionally' press the same against the continuously movingmaterial to advance the same with the latter, means to simultaneouslyraise said stop-finger out of the path of said succeeding unit of workwhen said presserarm is actuated, means for actuating said presser-arm,a detent for normally holding said presser-arm actuating means inactive,and means to release said detent operative upon the advance of saidpreceding unit of work beyond said stopfinger.

7. In combination with a sewing machine for successively stitching unitsof work to material continuously moving through said machine, a workstarting mechanism, comprising a movable stop-finger yieldablyengageable with a preceding unit of work advancing through the sewingmechanism of the machine so as to arrest movement of a succeeding unitof work, a presser-arm engageable with the succeeding unit of work tofrlctionally press the same against the continuously moving material toadvance the same with the latter, means to simultaneously raise saidstop-finger out of the path of said succeeding unit of work when saidpresser-arm is actuated, means for actuating said presser-arm, a detentfor normally holding said presser-arm actuating means inactive, anelectromagnetic means for releasing said detent, a normally openelectric circuit serving said electro-magnetic means, and means adaptedto close said circuit operated by a preliminary movement of saidstopfinger produced by the passing or" said preceding unit of work frombeneath the same.

8. In a work starting mechanism for sew ing machines, a movablestop-finger yieldably engageable with a preceding unit 01' workadvancing through the sewing niechanism of the machine so as to arrestmovement of a succeeding unit of work, means to raise said stop-fingerout of the path of said succeeding unit of work to permit its advance tothe sewing mechanism, means for actuating said stop-finger raisingmeans, a detent for normally holding said actuating means inactive, andmeans to release said detent opertive upon advance of said precedingunit of work beyond said stop-linger,

9. In a work starting mechanism for sewing machines, a movablestop-finger yieldably engageable with a preceding unit of work advancingthrough the sewing mechanism of the machine so as to arrest movement ofa succeeding unit of work, means to raise said stopfinger out of thepath of said succeed ing unit of work to permit its advance to thesewing mechanism, means for actuating said stop-finger raising means, adetent for normally holding said actuating means inactive, anelectro-magnetic means for releasing said detent, a normally openelectric circuit serving said electro-magnetic means, and means adaptedto close said circuit operated by a preliminary movement of saidstop-finger produced by the passing of said preceding unit of work frombeneath the In a work starting mechanism for sewmachines, a movablestop-finger yieldably engageable with an initial unit of work advancingthrough the sewing mechanism the machine so as to arrest movement ofsucceeding unit of work, means for advancing said succeeding unit ofwork and simultaneously r ising said stop-finger out of its path ofmovement to start the same through the sewing mechanism of the machine,means for actuating said latter means, a detent for normally holdingsaid actuating means inactive, and means to release said detentoperative upon the passing of said initial unit of work beyond saidstop-finger.

11. In a work starting mechanism for sewing machines, a movablestop-finger yieldablyengageable with a preceding unit of w r: advancingthrough the sewing mechanism of the machine so as to arrest movement ofa succeeding unit of work, means for advancing said succeeding unit ofwork and simultaneously raising said stop-finger out of its path ofmovement to start the same through the sewing mechanism of the machine,means for actuating said latter means, a detent for normally holdingsaid actuating means inactive, an electro-magnetic means for releasingsaid detent, a normally open electric circuit serving saidelectro-magnetic means, and means adapted to close said circuit operatedby a preliminary movement of said stop-finger produced by the passing ofsaid preceding unit of work from beneath the same.

12. In combination with for successively stitching units of work tomaterial continuously moving through said machine, a work startingmechanism, comprising means for frictionally pressing a succeeding unitof work against the continuously moving material to advance the samewith the latter to the sewing mechanism of the machine after a precedingunit of Work is substantially completed, means for actuating saidpressing means, a detent for normally holding said actuating meansinactive, and electromagnetic means to release said detent means.

13. In a work starting mechanism for sewing machines operative to stitchto a continuously moving fastener tape successive garment units, amovable stop-finger yieldably engageable with a preceding garment unitadvancing through the sewing mechanism of the machine and adapted toarrest movement of a succeeding garment unit, means to raise saidstop-finger out of the path of said succeeding garment unit to permitits advance to said sewing mechanism, means for actuating saidstop-finger raising a sewing machine mechanism of the machine means, adetent for normally holding said actuating means inactive, anelectromagnetic means for releasing said detent, an electric circuitserving said electromagnetic means, a pair of circuit make and breakdevices connected in series in said circuit, means adapted to close oneof said make and break devices operated by a preliminary movement ofsaid stop-finger produced by the passing of said preceding garment unitfrom beneath the same, and means adapted to subsequently close the othersaid make and break device operated by the movement of said'fastenertape to thereby start said succeeding garment unit in desiredpredetermined relation to said fastener tape.

1%. In a Work starting mechanism for sweing'machines operative to stitchto a continuously moving fastener tape successive garment units, amovable stop-finger yieldably engageable with a preceding garment unitadvancing through the sewing and adapted to arrest movement of asucceeding garment unit to prevent its advance to said sewing mechanism,a presser arm engageable with the succeeding garment unit tofrictionally ress the same against said eontinuonsly moving tape toadvance the same with the latter to the sewin mechani m of he ma chine,means to simultaneous y rai e aid stop-finger out of the path of, saidsueeeeding garment unit when sa d Presser-arm actuated, means foractuating said pre ser arm, a detent for normally holding said acetuating means inactive, an electrormagnetic means for releasing saiddetent, an eleetro circuit serving said electro-magnetic means, a pairof circuit make and break devices connected in series in said circuit,means adapted to close one of said make and brea l vices operated by aprelimina y m ve ent of said stop-finger produced by the passing of saidinitial garment unit from beneath the same, and means adapted tosubsequently close the other said make and break device operated by themovement of said fastener tape to thereby start said succeeding garmentunit in desired predetermined "relation to said fastener tape.

In testimony, that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereuntoset my hand this 12th day of August, 1926.

LEO ROSEMAN.

